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This reserve,
created in 1990, consists of seven sectors located in the
town of San Pedro de Atacama. Each sector has a different
type of geography, flora, fauna and hydrography.
The Tara Salt Deposit - Aguas Calientes sector is
five hours to the east of San Pedro. Here is the salt deposit
and lagoon of Tara, the river Zapaleri, the Aguas Calientes
salt deposit and the Negra lagoon. The animals that dwell
in this area are the vicuña, the South
American red fox, and in terms of flora there is
the water tola (Baccharis tola) and the amaia.
The Pujsa Salt Deposit sector is located further
to the south than Tara - Aguas Calientes; like the latter,
this geography is one of rolling plains, with an inter-mountain
depression and the hills of Negro de Pujsa and Balle. The
fauna is composed of vizcachas, chululos, flamingos, nandus,
condors
and eaglets, among others.
The ‘Lagoons Miscanti - Miñiques’ sector is located
to the south of Socaire Village, and has remarkable, beautiful
lagoons, from which the village owes its name, as well as
a rich and varied fauna of flamingos, juarjuar ducks, nandus,
eaglets, and tucuquers, among others. Its mountainous geography
is composed of hills and volcanoes, reaching a maximum altitude
of 5,910 meters (19,384 ft) above sea level.
In the Atacama Salt
Deposit, there are two sectors of the reserve: Soncor
and Quelana. As part of the salt deposit, the geography
of these areas is flat and saline, and 2,300 meters (7,544
ft) above sea level. Several bird species dwell here, but
the flamingo is perhaps the most characteristic. There are
three lagoons: the Puilar, Chaxas and Barros Negros which
form the hydric system of the reserve, and in terms of the
flora, there is the cachiyuyo, brea and salty grama.
Moon Valley
is also part of the reserve; the gray and South
American red fox dwell here, as well as eaglets,
chercans, thrush and others. The Salt Mountain Chain is
responsible for the existence of this valley, and there
are no water sources in the area.
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